BLU-RAY REVIEW

Shallows, The

Featured In Issue 210, October 2016

Picture5
Sound5
WSR Score4
Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
(Studio/Distributor):
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
48145
(MPAA Rating):
PG-13
(Rating Reason):
Blood images, sequences of peril, and brief strong language.
(Retail Price):
$$45.99
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
(Running Time In Minutes):
87
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
A
(Theatrical Year):
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
(Disc Release Date):
9/27/2016
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
(Director):
Jaume Collet-Serra
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers):
(Co-Producers):
(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
DTS HD Lossless 5.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(Spanish Language):
(Subtitles):

The Shallows is the suspenseful thriller that taps into one of man's most primitive fears—what's lurking beneath the ocean's surface. Nancy (Lively) is a surfer attacked by a great white shark a mere 200 yards from the shore of a secluded Mexican beach. As she struggles to survive, Nancy faces the ultimate contest of wills as she must outsmart the shark in its feeding waters. This requires Nancy's ingenuity, resourcefulness, and fortitude. (Gary Reber)

Special features include the featurettes Shooting In The Shallows (HD 05:57), as Director Jaume Collet-Serra, crew, and Blake Lively discuss the challenges and rewards of shooting in the waters off Lord Howe Island located in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand; How To Build A Shark (HD 06:56); Finding The Perfect Beach (HD 06:01); and When Sharks Attack (HD 07:34); three deleted scenes (HD 04:51); upfront previews; and an UltraViolet digital copy. Also available is the 4K UltraHD HDR version.

The 2.39:1 1080p AVC picture is terrific and exhibits a vibrant color palette that enhances the beautiful tropical green vegetation and aquatic blue ocean colors of the ocean and the earthy hues of the jungle backdrop of the sun-drenched sandy beach. Highlights sparkle off the wavy waters. Sunsets are beautiful. Night scenes are well contrasted with deep shadows and delineation. Nancy’s bloody leg is saturated in red hues, which are vibrant in daylight and more subdued in the night scenes. Fleshtones are naturally hued throughout, even in the presentation of Nancy's deteriorating condition. Resolution is excellent, especially during closeups of facial features, hair, surfing gear and board, rock formations, and sand granules that comprise the beach. The imagery is very realistic and editing effectively intensifies the terror of the situation. This is a terrifying visual experience with tension that builds and builds. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack builds and builds in intensity. Atmospherics, such as the constant sounds of water movement, and sound effects, such as intense pounding of heavy ocean waves against rocks and the buoy, are effective in intensifying the terror—such is enveloping throughout the soundfield. Dialogue is perfectly natural and spatially integrated. The music score is wonderful, with a sense of building mystery and terror as the story progresses. The music is spread wide and deep across the soundstage and aggressively extends to the surrounds. Deep bass enhances the sharp attacks and the intensified wave action. The soundtrack often conveys a sense of holosonic® dimension, for a fully engaging soundfield experience. (Gary Reber)